The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-04-01
..OtT OF THE COMMoN...


and warmth about the pair.
81 could not go against mammals wish
es, you know" the young lady said gently,
playing with the ring on her left hand.
'Shc has had long talk with me this
morning, and, though | knew she disap-
proved of our engagement, | never realized
before how her heart was set against it"
"And you do not think by patient wait
ing-by proving how earnest we are
mo, John. Mother cannot look upon
it as we do she realizes all the disadyan-
tages and none of the hopes that we have
built on; and then---'' the young lady
glanced down once at her delicate hands
before she continued-''wouldi it be quite
fair, John, for me to wait, and let all other
opportunities to glide by, and grow old
and sad while waited?''
John started. There was so much eau
ton suggested in the words. No doubt
she was but repeating them after her moth
er, but they fell chillingly on his ears from
these young lips.
sit is true, Maud, he answered, while
look of pain fingered on his face. ~ on
shall not let other chances of happiness
slip by because You are bound TO me. 1t
is not the love / thought you gave me-a
love which trusts and hopes in patient
faithfulness. | am no longer young, dear,
but | have risked much on this dream of
love coming late in my life, but coming
for the first time, Maud, and''-his voice
broke-''staying with me-always.
He rose and turned partly away from
her, quite still. leaning his arms on the
mantelpiece. Maud Branson rose too, and
came toward him, tho delicate, beautiful
face full of concern. There was nothing
about John Rogers to attract notice. He
was a very plain man no longer young
but he had at least some charm of mind
or sonl which had won the love of very
beautiful woman. Her dress olung in
graceful folds to her slender figure, fillet
of blue bound the golden hair. which was
in classic simplicity about her head lie
turned and looked at her, taking in all the
down dejectedly on his crossed arms.
Maud extended one hand aprealingly
''John will You take it?'
''1eS, Maud, he answered, drawing his
breath hard. II take it-and renounce
it.' lie patted the soft surface once or
twice. thoughtfully. ''All that came with
it, and all that goes with it, Maud, good
by
face that it touched her. The proud head
bent lower. until it rested OH John Rogers
shoulder. She raised herself with her eyes
still wet.
''Cood-by, John. The world can't give
Just what we want.
''No, dear. What is it -
"Your ring
lie took the pretty sapphire ring he had
placed on her hand one day with only half
realized rapture and slipped it in his vest
pocket. 1t was worthless now.
Aud so John Rogers left the house and
threaded his way down through the busy
streets. The sunlight still danced over
over him warm and beautiful, kissing his
grave face, his hair, his hands.
"'And let all other opportunities glide
by .; he repeated the words to himself
ruefully. cts not the old-fashiened love;
not the love used to dream of when was
boy. Perhaps there isn't any nova
days
He looked very tired as he ran up the
steps and rang at the door of his boarding
house. Clarice noticed it, his landlady's
daughter
''You looked tired, Mr.. Rogers" look
ing up from her work and speaking through
the open door.
lie smiled, YEARLY.
"DoI And what are you doing, Clar-
ice? Still sewing for those hardened little
wre.ches?''
Eyes; isn't this big hole am darning?
Boys do wear out their clothes so fast.
You are home early from the Office.
eyes, had an engagement at 8 o'clock
and did not care to go oack. May | come
in and have chat with you?''
so, yes, if you care to, +" with her quick
smile, smile which her eyes belied, and
which always seemed to John "made to
order She pulled forward chair with
out rising, and went ON with her darning
again. II sic here because it's cool, and
always do my sewing afternoons; in the
mornings there is housework
1t was shabby little parlor, seldom used
by the boarders, who We're principally gen
tlemen, and spent their evenings out, il not
in their own rooms. \ few tawdry deco
rations only enhanced the shabbiness of
the threadbare carpet, dirty walls, and an
cient lace curtains.
'Do you never have any amusements,
Clarice ?" asked John, trying to forget his
own wretchedness by interesting himself
in some one else.
''Amusements ?n she repeated, pushing
the cars off her forehead in puzzled way.
30, yes there is e Mr.. Jones, he plays the
piano and once Mr.. Aikens, the elocution
teacher, read .ieec, aud all the boarders
came in.
John smiied, cycling the little maiden
pityingly as she stitched away. She look
ed up suddenly and caught bis eye.